Receptacle arrangement for washing machines



July 24, 1956 HAYDON 2,755,650

RECEPTACLE ARRANGEMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 12. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 24, 1956 E. K. HAYDON RECEPTACLE ARRANGEMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1954 ml 4 a 7 July 24, 1956 HAYDON 2,755,650

RECEIPTACLE ARRANGEMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 GEMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES Application May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,305

4 Claims. (Cl. 68-131) RECEPTACLE This invention relates to washing machines and is primarily, though not exclusively, applicable to a washing machine as set forth in the present applicants British Patent No. 647,885, U. S. Patent 2,664,730. That specification describes a washing machine comprising a container for washing liquid of generally rectangular form having substantially vertical side and end walls, an approximately horizontal flat bottom wall, and a flat sloping wall between the bottom wall and one or each end wall, and a disc-like impeller mounted in or adjacent to one of the side walls. The provision of the sloping wall which cuts off a corner of the container, viewed in elevation along the impeller axis, gives improved washing efficiency by preventing the clothes from rotating bodily en ma-sse without introducing pockets in which the clothes remain stagnant, and without presenting protuberances over which the clothes are dragged with possible excessive wear.

in the construction described in the prior specification the container was concealed within an outer casing which joined it at its upper margin.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine of similar washing efliciency whilst economizing in material by partially eliminating the outer casing.

Thus according to the present invention a washing machine comprises a container for washing liquid of generally rectangular form having substantially vertical front and rear and side walls, a generally horizontal bottom wall and a sloping wall extending from one side wall to the bottom wall so as to cut old one lower corner as viewed in elevation, in which the vertical walls are exposed to form the outside of the machine and the bottom is formed by a flanged bottom wall secured by welding or the like to the inside of the vertical walls. Thus the flange of the bottom wall may be secured to substantially vertical surfaces of the vertical walls.

The vertical walls may be formed from a single piece of sheet material wrapped round and having its ends lap or butt welded together.

In one form of the invention the machine has a disclike impeller mounted in the rear wall of the container to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis and arranged to be driven by a motor mounted underneath the container. The machine may have a skirt connected to the vertical walls and enclosing the space containing the motor under the container.

In one arrangement the sloping wall is formed separately from the bottom wall and the latter extends beneath it substantially completely across between opposite side walls. In this case conveniently the flanged bottom wall is provided with an outlet and a sump below the sloping wall and troughs or openings are provided in the joint between the sloping and bottom walls to allow liquid to drain into the sump. The vertical walls may be formed with a downwardly facing internal shoulder, the sloping wall terminating just below this shoulder.

in an alternative arrangement the sloping wall is formed, as by passing, integrally with the bottom wall, and the flange extends round the exposed edges both of the sloptates Patent 2,755,55t) Patented July 24, 1956 ice 2 ing wall and of the bottom Wall. The upper edge of the flange may lie generally in a horizontal plane but may be formed with a cut-out recess to pass round the impeller.

The invention may be carried into practice in many different ways but two specific embodiments will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the liquid container of a washing machine, with the rear part broken away to show the interior,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the container of Figure 1, with the front broken away,

Figure 3 is a front sectional elevation of the container of Figure 1, through the centre of the container,

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the whole washing machine, with the belt cover removed,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the belt cover in position, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification showing an integral bottom and sloping wall.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5 the container 16 for washing liquid comprises vertical front and back walls 13 and 11 and side walls 12 and 14 formed from a single piece of sheet material bent round to a substantially rectangular plan form with curved corners,

. and having its ends lap or butt welded together at 15. The

material is pressed to form a downwardly facing internal shoulder 16 about one-third of the way up the container. A disc-like impeller 7 is mounted in the rear wall 13.

Fitted into the bottom of the vertical walls is a bottom wall 2% having a downwardly extending flange 21 round its margin which fits into the lowest portion of the wall and is seam-welded to the vertical wall. Prior to insertion the bottom is pressed to form a downwardly projecting sump .22 extending from about the middle to one edge and sloping down towards a drain outlet 23 near the middle of the sump. This half of the bottom has a number of troughs 24 pressed downwardly into it which slope down towards the sump.

In order to cut off one corner of the container as described in the prior specification referred to above, a sloping wall or bafile 30 is inserted in a position in which it will cover the sump. This sloping wall may be removable for cleaning, but is preferably welded in position. The sides or front and rear edges of the sloping wall are downwardly flanged at 31 to fit closely against opposite side walls of the container. Similarly its upper edge 32 is bent at an angle so that whilst the wall slopes this edge will lie in a vertical plane so as to rest against the adjacent end wall of the container just below the shoulder. Similarly its lower edge 33 is bent to lie horizontally on the bottom to which it is spot welded. The troughs 24 enable the water to drain under the edge of the sloping wall into the sump.

The container as described fits over the upper edge of a skirt 40 of similar plan form which again is formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent round to the required shape. The ends of this piece of metal may be lap or butt welded together but preferably they are spaced apart to provide an access opening 41 to the space within the skirt. An electric motor 42 is provided within this space and drives the impeller 17 through pulleys 43 and 4 4 and a belt 45. The upper edge of the skirt 40 is otiset or joggled to bring its surface flush with the lower part of the vertical wall of the container. The lower edge of the skirt may be formed with a flange 46 secured to a base 47 of any convenient form.

As shown in Figure 5 a separate belt cover 50 is detachably secured to the outside of the container and skirt to cover the opening 41 and conceal the belt and pulleys.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of integral bottom wall and sloping wall which may be employed in place of the bottom 20 and sloping Wall 30 of Figures 1 to 3. In this case a single pressing 60 comprises a nearly horizontal bottom portion 61 and a sloping portion 62 the exposed edges of both these portions being formed with an upturned flange 63. This flange is formed so that its upper edge will be horizontal and will lie close to the shoulder 16 of the vertical walls to which it will be seam welded. To enable the impeller to occupy a low position in the container the flange may have in it a semicircular recess 64 to fit round the impeller. The pressing is formed with a drain hole 65 to receive a sump, strainer and drain pipe in known manner.

In both embodiments the connection between the container and the skirt may be made in any convenient manner, for example with the aid of nuts and bolts (not shown) or by welding or soldering if the materials are suitable, and may incorporate a suitable gasket of rubber or like resilient material to form a packing and/or, give a more finished appearance.

The flanged bottom has been described as being secured to the vertical walls, and the opposite edges of the vertical walls have been described as being formed, by welding. It will be appreciated that these joints may be made by other like methods, in particular by soldering.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in a washing machine, a container for washing liquid comprising front and rear walls and side walls, a bottom wall formed with a drainage outlet spaced from the edges thereof, said bottom wall being slightly inclined downwardly towards the drainage outlet for directing the flow of liquid to said outlet, an inclined wall sloping downwardly from a side wall of the liquid container to said bottom wall, said inclined wall being disposed intermediate the front and rear walls of the container and the bottom wall forming a continuation of the lower edge of the inclined wall, said bottom and inclined walls being secured to the front, rear and side walls of the container, a marginal portion of said front, rear and side walls depending below the plane of the bottom wall, a supporting skirt for the liquid container disposed thereunder in vertical alignment with the walls thereof, said supporting skirt being secured to the depending marginal portions of the front, rear and side walls forming a compartment under the liquid container, an impeller in said liquid container for agitating clothes contained therein, a motor housed within the compartment under the liquid container for driving the impeller and means drivingly connecting said motor to said impeller.

2. In a washing machine as recited in claim 1, in which the bottom wall and the inclined wall are separately formed, the inclined wall being secured to the bottom wall overlying the drainage outlet, and a trough leading from the junction of the inclined wall and the bottom wall to the drainage outlet.

3. In a washing machine as recited in claim 1, in which the bottom wall and the inclined wall are integrally formed, and a peripheral flange extending vertically upwards from the bottom wall and the inclined wall disposed in contiguity to the front, rear and side walls for securing the bottom and inclined walls within the liquid container.

4. In a washing machine, a container for washing liquid comprising front and rear walls and side Walls, a bottom wall formed with a drainage outlet spaced from the edges thereof, said bottom wall being slightly inclined downwardly towards the drainage outlet for directing the flow of liquid to said outlet, an inclined wall sloping downwardly from a side wall of the liquid container to said bottom wall, said inclined wall being disposed intermediate the front and rear walls of the container and the bottom wall forming a continuation of the lower edge of the inclined wall, said inclined wall being formed integrally with the bottom wall, a vertical flange rising from the bottom and inclined walls, said front and rear walls and the side walls of the container being formed with a downwardly facing shoulder disposed in a horizontal plane, the bottom wall and inclined wall being positioned within the container with the vertical flange disposed in contiguity to the front, rear and side walls of the container with the upper edge of the flange located adjacent said shoulder, whereby said flange forms a continuation of the surfaces of the front, rear and side Walls of the container, a portion of said front, rear end and side walls depending below the bottom wall, a supporting skirt for the liquid container secured to the depending portions of the front, rear and side walls forming a compartment under the liquid container, an impeller in said liquid container for agitating clothes contained therein, a motor housed within the compartment under the liquid container for driving the impeller and means drivingly connecting said motor to said impeller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,014,475 Holloway Jan. 9, 1912 1,792,356 Boiseau Feb. 10, 1931 1,806,982 McKercher May 26, 1931 2,119,636 James June 7, 1938 2,254,003 De Marco Aug. 26, 1941 2,478,188 Gibson Aug. 9, 1949 2,657,286 Ludowitz Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 675,871 Great Britain July 16, 1952 

